Loop Pointer
By: Hillcrest Labs
The Hillcrest Loop Pointer is a great tool if you find yourself using the internet through your TV or plan to start doing so. It makes browsing the internet from your couch relatively comfortable. This makes it great for getting TV shows and movies from online sites or other tasks such as these that don’t require intensive use of a keyboard and mouse.
The Loop Pointer is very different from the traditional mouse that you are probably used to using. It uses the motion of your hand to move the cursor on a screen rather than having to slide a mouse around on a hard surface in order to move the cursor. The Loop doesn’t need to be pointed at the screen while you’re using it; it determines what direction to send the cursor based on the movement of the Loop in your hand. For instance your hand can be pointed in the opposite direction of the TV, but if you move your wrist up, the cursor will still move in the same way that it would if you had the Loop pointed directly at the TV.
The thing that is similar to a regular mouse is the set up of the buttons on the device. It has a left and right click where your thumb rests for easy, natural feeling while you’re using it. It even includes a scroll wheel that makes navigating web pages a breeze. The loop has a “Hide” button that you can use if you’re moving your hand around but don’t want the mouse moving. When you press the button it locks the cursor in place so you can put the Loop down on the couch and not worry about an annoying cursor flying all over the screen every time you move. This feature can also helps if you use the Loop for power point presentations. If you use hand gestures during the presentation you won’t have to worry about a distracting cursor on the screen.
Getting the Loop set up was simple, but getting used to the gestures to move the mouse took a little while. The only thing necessary for the Loop to interact with your computer is the loop receiver, which is about the size of a flash drive and fits into any USB port on your computer. There are no programs to install and the drivers required for the Loop are installed automatically. Next, you have to connect your computer to your TV. Depending on the type of TV you own you may be able to use VGA, S-Video, or HDMI cables to do this. Once the display from your computer is being sent to your TV (this may require some extra steps depending on your computer) you’re all set to use the internet on the big screen from the comfort of your living room couch. Getting used to the gestures to move the cursor takes practice, but it is easy to master and you’ll have the hang of it after a little bit of practice.
An optional step is to download the Kylo browser created by Hillcrest. The browser works in the same way as Internet Explorer or Firefox would, but it has a few features that make it easier to use with the Loop. First, when you open the browser, your preset home page is designed by Hillcrest. It contains links in the forms of pictures to popular sites such as Facebook, Youtube, and Hulu. These pictures are relatively large so you can easily click on them while using the Loop. Second, whenever you click on a box where you have to type, an on screen keyboard pops up so you can type with the cursor and not have to worry about having a keyboard on your lap at all times. The buttons on the keyboard are also big making it easier to click on with the Loop. Another feature I liked about the browser was that since it is made to be used on a TV, the browser took up the whole screen and made surfing smooth and is very nice to look at.
The Loop Pointer currently is selling for 69.99 from the Hillcrest website. I enjoyed using the pointer very much and thought it was a great product. It reminded me of using the Wii remote except it didn’t need to be pointed directly at the screen since it doesn’t use a motion bar like the Wii. Although you could buy a wireless mouse for 20 or 30 dollars which could accomplish the same thing as the Loop, I really liked how the Loop brought more interaction into surfing the web than a simple mouse would.
Specifications:
§ Diameter: 4.8 inches (approximately the size of a CD or DVD)
§ Width: 1.2 inches
§ Weight: 4.9 ounces
§ Color: Black with silver buttons
§ Connectivity: USB 2.0 antenna with built in RF (radio frequency transceiver)
§ Power supply: 2 AA batteries (included)
Grab your Own:
Amazon.com: $69.00
HillCrest Labs: 70.00
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